Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-20

] WIN l'abN-
"You cannot tell me what it isY' she
asked.
} ! answered:
Il must have offended him uncon-
sciously can't say anything more"
When the dinner bell rang | went down
stairs rs .sual- Passing the parlor door
{ | saw Mrs Bray. She was reading a note
aloud.
/ .! declare ] was never so surprised. v
she said. II thought he was in love with
that little girl All there she comes" "
She hurried away rs she spoke, in as
sumed terror The next moment | saw
| Eflic speak To her, and a white paper pass
into her hand Whatever it wgs she
/ knew and would tell me. She did That
/ evening she brought letter into my
room-a letter that Mrs Bray had ex-
hibtcd To all the house-a love letter
| from Harry Heathcote, tenderer and
more passionate than any he had ever
written to me, and with his undoubted
signature at its foot. 1t was no forgery.
even knew the paper. IA rare and costly
kind. with his own monogram upon it.
1t began Darling, and ended Your own
, Harry"
did not scream, did not swoon;
She had won him from me; but was in
no wise TO blame. was true. was
sinned against, not SHINING, and the blow
should not crush me.
did not even allow myself TO play the
mOurner. Contempt Of my lover had
taken the place Of love.
He would know did not grieve for
him; and | asked good old Mr. Halloran
ha m fn tho ty
ing with II smile on my lace, though my
heart ached sorely and life seemed cold
and cruel thing 10 me.
They told me ! was gay that night 1
chatted, | ate and drank, danced wltn-
ever | was asked 10 do so All the while
the words of that letter Harry had Mr,tten
10 Mrs. Bray We're in my heart
When old Mr. Halloran took me home
he told me had ''wearied myself out and
was beginning 10 feel it, But l was
strong yet
As went up stairs old Mrs Horton
looked out of her room.
Your beau was here tonight" she
said. Il expect he was cut up 10 find
You out, but Mrs. Bray took care of
him"
tried 10 laugh All my life I felt
must now laugh when had rather cry
must hide my heart. No one should ever
call me 'diSappointed' woman. No one
should speak of me as one who had been
Tilted.
wrapped myself in my dressing gown
and sat before the fire. | could not sleep.
| could not even lie down The clock
struck l., |, ,. and still | watched the
dying emhcrs. Ten minutes more had
gone by, when suddenly II frightful shrek
rang through the house-another and
another. | rushed To the door Other
people Were in the entry. The shrieks
came from Mrs. Bray's rCom and ere We
could open it, it was flung wide and she
rushed toward us, her long white night
robe all ablaze, horrible moving column
of fire
don't know what | thought don't
know what did. | cannot remember any
thing more until had her down upon the
floor with blanket had snatched from
pile that lay on the table in the entry
wrapped about her. | heard myself cry
ing: Lie still ard you will save your
face. - And saw the flames choke out,
and the light, black tinder floating about
me, and | knew that had at least saved
her from being quite burned to death.
Soon knew that | had siIyod her life
IL was night again when some one came
TO my door and told me that Mrs. Bray
wished to see me. OF course, | went 10
her She was lying in her bed, wrapped
in handages, and she could not stir, bu;
she looked at me earnestly.
Send them out Of the ROOM" she said
81 want 10 speak to you alone"
And when the nurse had closed the dool
between herself and Mrs. Horton, sh,
looked at me again in the same strange
way.
You saved my life," she said ''Yes,
and remember what you said: Lie still
and You'll save your face Most women
would have liked me TO have spoiled my
face had Used them SO. And you don't
know the world, either Go to that desk.
There's a letter there. It's yours.
wanted to make you jealous, and wrote
TO your beau 10 ask his escort somewhere.
Two notes came at the same time to
the house. | knew very well that there
was n mistake made-that mine had been
put into your envelope and yours into
mine. | scratched Your name out of that
one you have there and showed it about
TO make you jealous. He's as true as steel
10 you. | love you for saving my face,
and tell you that. Now, try To forgive
me-
was too happy 10 do anything else.
knew that what she said was true. And
when she asked me | stopped down and
gave her kiss.
II was our last interview. When Mrs.
Bray recovered she left Mrs. Horizons,
and Harry Heathcote never knew any
thing about those two miserable days until
had been his wife too long TO have any
secrets from him.-Nos York Journal